2010 Flames Come Back To Win in a Stunning Shootout Victory at Jay Peak

When you watch 9 and 10 year-old kids play youth ice hockey in a tournament miles from anywhere, how exciting can it be? I mean half of these kids have been playing hockey or even skating for less than 3 seasons. But there we were, parents, kids, players from various teams, coaches, representing all ages and sizes, each edging closer to the glass just to see how this game would finish.

The best part, and I really mean, the best part is watching the kids be kids. Kids learning second by second. They win, they lose. They fail and they succeed. They try stuff. They don’t pay attention and then at the same time they experience some of the most overwhelming situations in their young lives. They are so very alive with whatever is pulsing through their young minds. And they do all of it right in front of our eyes. They don’t need us yelling at them, or talking them up, or talking them down. They are in their new and ever-changing world out on the ice and if we allow it, it’s a safe place to both succeed and fail. Frankly, they usually don’t need to be told which way their moment went. They know. For us, it’s up to us to support them and enjoy the moment especially since these days go fast, and don’t last too long.

So let’s get to the game. This afternoon the Flames played Acton-Boxborough in the consolation game to determine 3rd and 4th place finishes for the tournament. The game’s ending will go down as exciting and memorable no matter which side you were on. Some of the game could have been categorized as sloppy and sluggish, especially early on. But the action just kept getting better as the game went on. The Flames were playing their best hockey of the day in the final period.

1st Period

: Manchester Flames vs. Acton-Boxborough in the 3rd place consolation game at Jay Peak. Opening face-off.

: Austin “The Little Engine That Could” used his speed to get behind the defense.

: He sold the forehand to set up the goalie.

: He got the goalie to commit to his left, and quickly shifted to the backhand.

: Then Austin ran out of time and space with a wide open net, but he would make adjustments as he went along.

: Luke calls for the puck from his opponent in hopes that he will get a good pass to set up a shot on goal.

: I took this picture as The Mighty Fin stepped into the bleachers to get in my way so we couldn’t see Austin’s shot get deflected wide of the net.

: Drew and Theodore look poised to score a goal and tie the game at 1-1, but nothing came of this scoring chance.

: Luke, Austin, and Jordan line up for an offensive zone face-off.

: Luke skates through the corner but wonders, internally distant, “Is eye black really necessary indoors?”

: Austin deployed one of his adjustments when he purposely decreased his shooting angle to really get the goaltender thinking.

: But with perfect execution of his calculations, he tickled the twine to tie the game at 1-1.

: Proof that the game was now tied, 1-1.

: Theodore forces the AB defender to move the puck quickly while Logan hangs out at his post. AB had taken a 2-1 lead by this time.

: Moments later, Drew snaps a shot into the net from the slot with Luke and Austin in support.

: The period would end with the score tied at 2-2.

2nd Period

Let me also add to this second period story if I may. First of all, by this point in the game I was getting frustrated for a number of reasons. One, the Flames appeared to be playing at a level that was about as inspiring as the story-line in Rocky VIII. Two, I was surrounded by Acton-Boxborough players from other age groups, their coaches, and some parents. Which wasn’t terrible except when trying to maneuver for better angles to take pictures. The kids were older, kind of funny in a chorus of voices going through changes in their teen years kind of a way. I was frustrated with the Flames and all their, feet not moving, swings and misses at the puck being handled by an AB player, which led to countless odd-man rushes on offense. Since Travis was playing goal at this end of the ice in the second period, some heckling began from the AB kids. It was only slightly condescending if not eventually complimentary. It went something like this: One kid starts with, “Ok goalie let’s see what you’re made of.” Another kid beside him asks, “What are you made of, cheese?” Original kid, “Are you made of Swiss cheese?” Then Travis makes a save. Kid, “Hey goalie, are you made of cheese?” Other kid, “Maybe it’s cheddar cheese.” Another kid, “I like cheddar cheese”. I am thinking, “Maybe it’s Vermont’s own Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese from Cabot”.

Then the kids were yelling for penalties to be called on everything. But, this was about the most honest heckling I have ever heard. Kid, “Come on ref, that’s a trip!” Other kid, “You gotta call tripping! That’s tripping!” Me, without looking away from my lens, “No it’s not!” Kid, “Okay, that’s not a trip, but we want it to be called!” I am not kidding, this happened about half a dozen times with tripping, checking, and offsides. It was hilarious actually.

Speaking of checking. Jax was called for an original checking call and a series of sequels that actually would rival the Rocky movies. At one point I am pretty sure he skated towards an opponent who fell down and was called for checking by proximity. He must have really paid attention to the free positioning clinic that was offered the day before.

: Travis makes a save early in the second period. This may have been when Swiss turned to cheddar.

: Drew and Gavin help out on defense while Colby pulls a trick out of Kaveney the Magnificent’s book of grand illusion behind the net. Gavin’s facial expressions cannot be contained by a full face mask.

: Face-off photo as required by anyone taking pictures at a hockey game. On a different and unimportant note, based on simple elevation assessment, I wondered if the AB coach on the left is #37’s Dad.

: After a nice deke, this shot beat Travis and gave AB a 3-2 lead.

: I am not making this stuff up.

: I love pictures like this. Youth hockey at it’s best. So much life. So much fun. You can see it in their eyes and their strides. Oh, to skate fast and feel the ice ever so slightly give way to razor sharp blades and the perfect sound that it makes.

: Drew circles inside the blue line. All at the same time, coaching is happening, resting between shifts, and competition on the ice.

: AB scored from the blue line to make it 4-2. I didn’t post a picture at the request of Travis’s agent. That, and I didn’t actually take a picture of the goal.

: His Magnificence up close and personal.

: The Flames trailed 4-2 at the end of two periods. You don’t have to look close to notice that the Flames will begin the final period down by a pair of goals, and killing a penalty just to increase difficulty.

3rd Period

: The Flames get together before the 3rd period and discuss how to make a come back. Somewhere during the game, Travis came to the bench and handed his Dad a tooth that he had pulled out himself, on the ice.

: With the distraction of the nagging tooth out of the way, Travis turned his game up a notch or two.

: These next few pictures are interesting. First, Austin sends the puck toward the crease with Drew and Theodore awaiting.

: The AB goalie plays the puck back between his own legs.

: Theodore stands guard while Drew and Austin sweep at the puck like they are in the Curling World Championships.

: I did mention to Drew after the game, that it’s a lot easier to score when you are standing inside the goal with the puck.

: Lots of time left to tie the game, right?

: Travis made the initial save on a heavy shot from AB #37 but couldn’t keep the swarm to the rebound at bay.

: So, less than a minute after scoring, the Flames found themselves trailing by two goals again.

: The AB goalie, Mike I believe, played really well. Here he snags a shot from Logan to keep the Flames from cutting into their lead.

: The big guy had a great scoring chance to put this game out of reach.

: Travis made the stop and then AB starting firing players at the net and Travis stopped those shots too.

: The Little Engine That Could just kept willing himself and his team to get back into this game.

: Austin beat the goalie to the glove side on this breakaway and gave the Flames a huge boost!

: Under 2 minutes to play and the Flames trailed by a single goal.

: Then Austin struck again with this bouncing shot from a tough angle.

: The puck flattened out at the goalie’s feet and snuck through the five-hole.

: That my friends is the tying goal all snug inside the goal.

: Tie game with just over a minute left to play. This after trailing, 1-0, 2-1, 3-2, 4-2, 4-3, 5-3, and 5-4. Unbelievable!

Shootout

: The big guy led off and Travis held the fort.

: Austin gave the Flames a 1-0 lead in the shootout on their first attempt.

: One round, Flames lead 1-0.

: Travis got some help from the iron on this shot as the puck bounced away from the net.

: Drew fires his shot but the goalie swallowed it up. Still 1-0 after two rounds.

: Travis “lost” his stick on this save, but a save it was.

: Logan fired a low shot that the goalie deflected wide with a stick save. Still, the Flames led 1-0 after three rounds.

: This shooter was very patient and slipped a shot under Travis and through the five-hole to knot the shootout at 1-1.

: The Mighty Fin skates in with a 1-1 tie on the board and rips a low, hard shot to the blocker side.

: Finley hits the back of the net with her shot to give the Flames a 2-1 lead after four rounds. Kids from the WTM team (eventual Champs) and their fans were cheering wildly for the Flames as the puck hit the twine.

: Travis slams the door shut in round five. Flames win the shootout 2-1.

: Flames Win!

: Flames Win!!

: Flames Win!!!

: Flames fans celebrate as well.

The Flames won the game 6-5 (2-1 in the shootout). They took home the 3rd place prize and finished the tournament with a 2-2 record. They played well. They played together, on and off of the ice. It was really great to see the kids and families come together over the weekend. We had a great time and I am pretty sure that was the same for the whole Flames contingent at Jay Peak this weekend.

Front row (L-R): Austin, Drew, Travis, Gavin, James, Jordan. Second row (L-R): Colby, Jax, Logan, Luke, Theodore, Garrett, Finley, Ian. Back row (L-R): Coach Scott, Head Coach Nick, Coach Austin, Coach Tim.

Sincerely, I am honored to be asked to the ice and into the locker room to take these pictures for the team. I am just another Dad, with no business on the ice or behind the scenes. Thank you.

I left the locker room as quick as I could so the team could revel in that sacred place, The Room. As I walked out, Coach Nick got down on one knee to be equal to the kids level. And behind me he led one last ear shattering raucous celebratory cheer with his team, and they all joined in. It was awesome and left a lump in my throat as the door swung shut behind me. Great job Flames! Congratulations on your tournament play.